A Brief History

    In 1785, two years after the Revolution, and one year before the bill for establishing religious freedom in America was passed, Childrey Baptist Church was organized and Obadiah Echols became the first pastor.                                                                          

    The present building is located at the same place as the original building.  This building (except the Educational Building), which will seat 400, having been constructed in 1911, is the third building used by the
congregation since the organization of the church.  It is said that some
timbers, cut by hand, and shipped here from England, were used in the
present building.  In 1937 a basement for Sunday School rooms was
constructed under the present building.  In 1964 a new Educational Building was build along the same architectural lines as the sanctuary and was built attached to the old building.  This building, which has a Pastor's Study, Library, sixteen class rooms and assembly rooms, and restrooms was constructed and furnished at a cost of approximately $35,000.  The final payment was made in January, 1967.  During 1968 approximately $8,000 was spent in redecorating and refurbishing the sanctuary with repairs to the
walls, re-finishing the floors, installing new pews and carpets being the greater part of this work.  In 1972 a brick building was constructed separate from the old building at a cost of approximately $40,000.  This building consists of a Fellowship Hall, kitchen, restrooms and seven classrooms.
    In 1974, the church purchased land across the road from the church building.  This was used for the ball field and additional cemetery space.
    In 1978, the sanctuary and Sunday School building were bricked, top of main church building painted, storm windows installed, and the old steeple dismantled due to its deteriorated condition.  This was at a cost of
approximately $25,000.00.
    In 1979 the church installed central air conditioning.
    In 1985 carpet in sanctuary and cushions on pews were installed.  The church celebrated its 200th Anniversary on February 22, 1985 with various activities throughout the year, with 1785 dress attire.
    In 1986 a new steeple at a cost of $7925 was installed on the church.  This began as a bicentennial project of two Sunday School classes, and donations were received to see this to completion.
    In 1987 a carillon system was installed, which was an honorary gift to the church.
    In 1990 the church received a Baby Grand Piano as a memorial gift to the church.
    In 1991 the church purchased a new van.
    In 1992 a storage building was added behind the parsonage for housing the van and additional storage capacity for the pastor.
    In 1993 a gift of approximately .9 acres of land was added to the property surrounding the parsonage.
Since 1925 the church has had only eight Pastors.  Rev. Robert S. Booker, a native of this area, became Pastor in March, 1925, and remained until his retirement in 1960.   Rev. Forest Jackson became Pastor in 1960, and remained
until the early part of 1964.  Rev. Parker S. Hooper, became pastor, September 1, 1964 and remained until January, 1971.  Rev. Benjamin F. Rogers became Pastor in May, 1971 and remained until April, 1973.  Rev. Robert M. Richardson became Pastor in December 1, 1974 and remained until February 28, 1980.  Rev. Charles Jolly became Pastor June 10, 1980 and remained until June 10, 1983.  Rev. Clifford Wayne Reynolds became Pastor November 1, 1984 and remained until March 9, 1991.   Pastor, Rev. David Allan Taylor, began December 6, 1992. The present pastor is Rev Rodney Barwick he started in November of 1998.